Beter Uit

Beter Uit is a Dutch Christian travel organisation that organises group holidays for a range of target groups, including young people, singles, families and travellers aged 30 and over. It traces its origins to Ronduit Reizen, the travel arm of the youth movement of the Evangelische Omroep (EO), which was founded in 1981 by Jan van den Bosch. After the Dutch government prohibited the broadcaster from running commercial travel activities, the operation was renamed Beter-uit Reizen. Over the following decades the company grew through acquisitions and rebranding, becoming Beter-uit in 2014 and adopting the current spelling Beter Uit in April 2017. The company is based in Alphen aan den Rijn and serves a largely Protestant-Christian clientele, with a significant share of its customers coming from the Dutch 'Bible Belt'. Its portfolio has expanded beyond escorted tours to include holiday parks: La Draille in France, Vell Emporda in Spain and Walsdorf in Luxembourg, the latter two through partnerships or ownership arrangements. Beter Uit also organises trips to destinations of particular interest to Christian travellers, such as Israel and the United States, and offers holidays on contracted Christian campsites. Beter Uit is a member of High Flight International (HFI) and the ANVR, the Dutch travel industry association. In 2010 it ranked 27th in the top 40 of largest tour operators in the Netherlands. The organisation markets itself with the slogan 'Samen geloven, samen beleven' (believing together, experiencing together) and emphasises its Christian identity, small-scale group travel, enthusiastic tour leaders and connection among travellers. Its website lists a broad range of destinations across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, as well as various travel styles such as young singles, all ages, family, fly & drive and 30+ trips.

Beter Uit's history begins with Ronduit Reizen, the travel operation of the youth movement of the Evangelische Omroep (EO), founded in 1981 by Jan van den Bosch. The Dutch state secretary for broadcasting and culture prohibited the broadcaster from operating this travel activity because it was considered foreign to the public broadcasting system. The operation was therefore renamed Beter-uit Reizen and continued as an independent travel organisation. In 1999 Beter-uit Reizen took over the majority of the travel activities of Echo Reizen, a fellow Christian travel company. In May 2013 it acquired DrieTour Reizen from Driebergen. The following year, 2014, the organisation changed its name from Beter-uit Reizen to Beter-uit, dropping the word 'Reizen' to reflect an expanded offering that now included stays at holiday parks alongside traditional travel. In 2016 it acquired the bankrupt Middle Continental Tours from Beek, a specialist in choir trips, choir festivals and city breaks. In April 2017 the name was changed again, this time to Beter Uit without a hyphen. Alongside its core tour operations, Beter Uit developed a portfolio of holiday parks: La Draille in France, Vell Emporda in Spain and Walsdorf in Luxembourg. It also maintains partnerships with Christian campsites and organises trips to destinations of interest to Christian travellers, including Israel and the United States. The organisation is a member of High Flight International (HFI) and the ANVR, and in 2010 it was ranked 27th among the largest tour operators in the Netherlands. In 2006 the company attracted national media attention during a legal conflict with former manager Jan-Willem Herweijer, who had started his own business under the name Goed Idee Reizen. Beter-uit initially accused him of misusing customer databases and relationships, and according to his lawyer also of breaching a non-compete clause. As the proceedings continued, it was alleged that Beter-uit had dismissed Herweijer because of sexual misconduct; Herweijer denied this and said he had resigned himself. Both parties accused each other of leaking the matter. The court ruled against Beter-uit Reizen on all points. Beter-uit appealed but later withdrew the appeal.

• 2017

  Name changed to Beter Uit (without hyphen) in April.

• 2016

  Acquired bankrupt Middle Continental Tours from Beek.

• 2014

  Renamed from Beter-uit Reizen to Beter-uit.

• 2013

  Acquired DrieTour Reizen from Driebergen in May.

• 2010

  Ranked 27th in the top 40 of largest tour operators in the Netherlands.

• 2006

  Legal conflict with former manager Jan-Willem Herweijer; court ruled against Beter-uit Reizen.

• 1999

  Took over most travel activities of Echo Reizen.

• 1981

  Ronduit Reizen founded by Jan van den Bosch as the travel arm of the EO youth movement.

• 1981

  Renamed Beter-uit Reizen after government prohibition of broadcaster-run travel.

Christian group travel specialist offering holidays with a personal, small-scale and faith-based character.

• Group holidays

• Singles trips

• Family vacations

• 30+ trips

• Young people's trips

• Fly & drive holidays

• River cruises

• Tailor-made group travel

• Holiday park stays

• Christian campsite holidays

1. 1Beter Uit - Samen geloven, samen belevenbeter-uit.nl
2. 2Beter Uit - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Beter Uit - Wikipedianl.wikipedia.org